The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-18

prise has Am fica done more for the worlds prog
r IS than in her r4ilroad deyelouncnt She has st
the world an Example tbs influence Of which must
be salutlry with every civilized people Her career
successes uncqualled by any notion in any age
Her railroad record is an epoch in the calendar of
time and the monumental achievement in civilian
ton march. Led hy our example the old world is
fast falling into line, and before another century
the map Of the world, and revolution lie the nan
ners the morals and RIG on OF one half of the hut
man race Ihey VIII penetrate to the heart Of
and fall before the locomotives whistle like the
| walls Of Jericho at he blast Of Joshuas trump
Africa transformed win become like asia, and Asia
| multiplied and extended Europe and America win
become lne mighty teateTS OF a higher and
Brander civilization than tie world has ever
known.
Am mistaken, or am right in claiming leader
snip Tor ths country IN that mighty Development
which is bringing together the ends of the earth,
and into closer communion the whole family OF
man? what are the facis BY the latest and most
reliable statistics at my command. it appears that
this country has constructed ana fU into operation
nearly four times as many miles If railIodd the
mother tomIy, Great Britain moe than five
times as many as Frine and more than Germany,
Austria spain France and Great Britain all com
blned This last born ofthe great family of nations
has not only moved with majestic Stride to the head
Of the column in this march OF DEVELOPMENT INT
has actually put into operation nearly one third of
the railroads Of the whole world.
IN telegraph lines. also our pre-eminence is
scarcely less remarkable, Within the memory Of
tho e around me We have stretched through the air
more than 100000 miles of telegraph wires-iron
to the people in Obedience t. orders the millions Of
lnesag committed 10 ITS care. There is no other
country in the world that apprOXimates America in
/ this slupendous achievement.
But let me descend from he universal to the
local. Let Inc suppose that circle is drawn around
the Slot upon which now stand with radius of
two hundred aud fifty miles. and that that outer
rim there is erected an impossible wall high ana
| hlHylt IL, l1e noun ANS mat small area would
embrace within its walls every natural resource and
! capability fJra rich and powerful empire. There
Is scarcely necessity luxury of life that is not
| and cannot be produced within that limit All
minerals, all metals, all needed products, ali the
friendly and varied climates are here. Within that
circumference n the north and northwest, are giant
| young cities, cOntendng with PittsJurg and with
| Birmingham in England for the iron crown There
IS not only coal enough for all their blazing fur
naces ana domestic uses, but enough for a continent
! ana Tor coming centuries On the south, southwest
and southeast quarter Of that boundary are semi
tropical regions the SALTS and the ports and the
lmltless beds Of phosphatcs for the enrichment Of
Within it is marble of every shade and variety
| enough to build palace on every hill. There is
| STATE enough TO coyerG Its haiiat0ns; lead enough
! 70 ueiehd Them There is bread enough to fee
| many times its population; cotton enough to clothc
| thein water power enough for all manuilcturing
and gold enough for currency; while, above il all a
| bcnignant Providence bends the baimiest of skies
and with giving breezes drives fromits borders
have singled out this section Immediately
tins beautiful city in order to fix your attention upon
the capabilities Of part that you may more readily
| calculate the possibilities of the whole.
in conclusion, let me briefly recGp'tulate. We
have furnished 10 mankind the best example of well
regulated political freedom, and the first and only
| example of absolute religious hery.
| We have set up in this new world q government
Whose nauenceis felt to the ends of the earth and
have kindlcd in the heart of Chi tendon a passion
f9rtfeedom which shall never be c&tingushed till
| all mon are free.
| in material progress we have led asonished and
| enlighencd the world. In the hands of our Frank
lin, the thunderbot covered at the feet of science.
IN the hands OF Morse, Of Bell and of Edison, the
| telegraph ana telephone have made time II myth
/ trymen the first Steamship rode the bIioWs and The
| railroad has become the non1rch Of material adj